chsdbacks Chapter 245 Half-Life Beta User Loss
Chapter 245 Half-Life Beta User Loss
Zhou Mingzhe was puzzled when he heard Lu Ran say that.
Why is excessive beta testing also considered bad?
"Because of scarcity."
Lu Ran patiently explained, "Why are our beta test codes so sought after? It's not because the game is so good, it's because you can't get one. Of course, I don't mean to say our game is bad."
"But that's just how some things are; what you can't have always stirs your heart, while those who are favored take it for granted."
Zhou Mingzhe interrupted, "President Lu, does what you're saying sound like singing?"
"Is this the point?" Lu Ran was a little angry that her partner with low emotional intelligence kept interrupting her.
"Listen to me, don't interrupt."
Zhou Mingzhe nodded, and Lu Ran continued.
"Once players get their beta keys, play for a couple of days, and find the game is just so-so, what will they think? They'll think, 'Oh, that's all? I waited so long for this.' And then they'll leave."
"Meanwhile, those who managed to snag a beta test code are still gloating, while those who didn't are still envious. How long can this sense of disparity last? Can it last until the game is officially released?"
After listening, Zhou Mingzhe couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."
"Keep it down, keep it down." Lu Ran waved his hand modestly, "It's just basic stuff, don't be silly."
...
Meanwhile, many people in the Weibo comment section have started posting screenshots of themselves successfully securing a spot.
[User "Lucky Xiao Wang"]: I won! I won a beta test code for Half-Life! One in 50,000! Taking a screenshot to commemorate the moment!
[User "Lemon Spirit"]: Waaaaah, I want one too, why didn't I get it?
[User's "Rational Analysis"]: With 50,000 spots available, the odds of winning must be pretty high, right? I've seen a lot of people posting pictures.
[User "Data Guru"]: I've roughly counted over 3,000 posts on Weibo showing off their lottery wins. At this rate, the actual number of winners might really be around 50,000. Tencent was certainly generous this time.
[User "Veteran Gamer"]: Just downloaded it and played two rounds. How to put it... a bit disappointing.
[User "spectator"]: What's wrong? Disappointed? Tell me!
[User "Veteran Gamer"]: The graphics are okay, and there are quite a few guns, but the gameplay feels weird. It feels like you're shooting at thin air, and there's almost no feedback when you hit someone. Also, the latency is a bit high; I've been aiming for ages, but by the time I fire, the person has already disappeared.
[User's "rational analysis"]: After all, it's an internal test, so it's normal to have bugs.
[User "Veteran Gamer"]: That's true, but compared to "Seven Heroes of the Jianghu," the difference is huge. The combat over there feels so real, every strike feels real, while here, shooting is like fireworks.
[User "Rainbow Cat Fan"]: Upstairs, you're putting someone down! But I like it! "Seven Heroes of the Jianghu" is awesome!
[User "Tencent's Son"]: Are all the people upstairs trolls? Half-Life just launched and they're already criticizing it?
[User "Veteran Gamer"]: What did I criticize? I was just sharing my own experience. Have you even played it? If not, shut up.
...
Looking at these comments, Lu Ran couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Indeed, the eyes of the masses are discerning.
Whether a game is fun or not, players will know after playing a couple of rounds.
However, many players have not experienced "Seven Heroes Jianghu", so in their eyes, "Half-Life" is still quite novel. Many people have also become die-hard fans of "Half-Life", passionately arguing with others online.
Of course, most players are still fence-sitters.
Although they managed to snag a beta code for Half-Life and are playing the game, they're still eagerly waiting to grab a beta code for Seven Heroes.
Based on feedback from netizens, at least the gaming experience of Seven Heroes is much better than that of Half-Life.
...
"Brother Zhou," Lu Ran said to Zhou Mingzhe, looking at the online trends, "Notify the technical department that the third batch of beta test codes for 'Seven Heroes' will be distributed as planned in three days."
"Twenty thousand?"
"Yes, 20,000," Lu Ran said. "In addition, we'll hold an event in the gaming community—share your amazing moments in 'Seven Heroes Jianghu,' and the top 100 people with the most likes will receive a limited-edition skin after the official launch."
Zhou Mingzhe was taken aback: "Limited edition skins? Do we have any?"
"Not now, but soon," Lu Ran laughed. "Have the art team work overtime to design a few nice skins. Rainbow Cat's Flame Set, Blue Rabbit's Ice Set, Black Tiger's... Simp Set?"
Zhou Mingzhe pushed up his glasses: "Are you sure Black Tiger's fans will buy this?"
"Don't worry, they'll not only buy it, they'll scramble to buy it." Lu Ran said confidently. "Believe it or not, people will definitely be shouting, 'It's worth spending money on Blue Rabbit!'"
"..."
Three days later, the third batch of beta test codes for "Seven Heroes of the Jianghu" were released.
All 20,000 slots were snapped up within an hour.
Although it was a bit slower than the first two batches—after all, Tencent was also releasing beta codes, diverting a lot of attention—the speed was still astonishing.
"Mr. Lu," the operations and maintenance guy reported the data, "the activation rate of the third batch of beta test codes is 98.7%, which is higher than the first two batches."
Lu Ran nodded; this data was within his expectations.
Most of those who managed to snag a beta test code are loyal TUTU users, so the high activation rate is to be expected.
Given the previous publicity surrounding the closed beta, it's quite normal for the activation rate of the third wave of players to be high.
After all, if you don't play now, you'll lose that sense of superiority that comes from playing first.
"What about Tencent?" he asked.
Zhou Mingzhe pulled up some data: "For Half-Life, out of 50,000 beta test codes, the activation rate is 89%. But..."
"But what?"
"But their retention rate isn't looking good." Zhou Mingzhe pushed up his glasses. "On the first day, there were 30,000 people online at the same time, but on the second day, it dropped to 20,000, and today, the third day, there are only a little over 10,000 left."
Upon hearing this data, Lu Ran knew perfectly well that these lost users were precisely the ones who came to steal the users from "Seven Heroes Jianghu".
...